Officials from Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), the City of Winston-Salem and the S.G. Atkins Community Development Center (SGACDC) cut the ribbon on Winston-Salem’s first shared-use commercial kitchen during a ceremony at The Enterprise Center on Monday, June 25. 

Cutting the ribbon on the Enterprise Center’s new shared-use commercial kitchen, (from left) Marla Newman, director of community development for the City of Winston-Salem; Constance Mallette, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration at WSSU; Walter Farabee, Director of talent retention and recruitment at WS Chamber; Carol Davis, executive director for the S.G. Atkins CDC; WSSU Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson; and City Council members Derwin Montgomery ’10, and Denise D. Adams.

The Chamber’s Walter Farabee participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony as the Board Chair of the S.G. Atkins CDC.

“Part of the mission of the S.G. Atkins CDC is to help people in this community grow businesses,” said Carol Davis, executive director for the SGACDC. “Until now, we have worked with people who needed office spaces, but now the Enterprise Center can make this commercial equipment available. This is something that has been missing in our local food scene, and we’re happy to have it here.” 

The kitchen, located in the Enterprise Center, is funded through grants from the City of Winston-Salem and the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

The 895-square-foot kitchen has three refrigerators, three freezers, and several pantries with shelving for storage. It also has a six-burner range, a 40-pound fryer, a double convection oven, a 40-quart mixer, and a baker’s station. There’s also an ice machine and a dishwasher. 

The kitchen will help caterers and food entrepreneurs who have products that they want to package and sell in stores and online, Davis said.

The kitchen will be closely regulated by the Forsyth County Health Department. Davis said to be considered, users must have their business plan approved by the Enterprise Center, have insurance and be food safety-certified and have a permit from the health department. 

Shanta Hauser Faison, who has worked as an executive chef for 11 years, is among those who has been waiting for the new kitchen to open. She developed a business plan and received state approval in February to launch Rosey Blooms, a food business named after her grandmother. She’s hoping the commercial kitchen can help her take her business national, starting first with her own recipe of collard greens.

“To know that there’s a consistent and structured place where I can practice and expand my craft without fear of the obtaining the proper support alleviates so many barriers,” Faison said. “Just as importantly, it also provides an environment in which I am able to share my experiences with other chefs in pursuit of a higher goal while learning from their experiences as well.” 

Shanta Hauser Faison, who worked as an executive chef for more than 10 years, has been waiting for the new shared-use commercial kitchen to open.

The Enterprise Center, a development of SGACDC, aims to help people in the communities around WSSU grow businesses. The center also offers: a business incubator; workshops and classes for entrepreneurs; and a conference and banquet center. The center also houses WSSU’s School of Health Sciences Virtual Hospital, the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Center for the Study of Economic Development (CSEM), and WSSU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. For more information about the S.G. Atkins CDC and its programs, please visit the website.

About Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.